Arsenal tough it out to go top

ARSENE WENGER is sure Arsenal’s extra physical and mental strength could lead them to the title and end their long wait for a trophy.

GUTSY: Arsenal's team are purported to have unrivalled physical and mental fortitude [EPA]

The Gunners delivered a gutsy performance to beat Newcastle with Olivier Giroud, left, scoring his 11th goal of the season, leapfrogging Manchester City to go top. The Arsenal boss believes it was a sign of their growing strength, proving they can tough it out.

Wenger said: “There is something in the team which is special on that front, on the mental front when many times that has been questioned.

“We have shown that at West Ham when we were 1-0 down and we have shown that again when we had our backs to the wall in the last 15 minutes. There’s a great solidarity and a great spirit in the side. It was a very intense game against a good Newcastle team who made it a very big challenge, a big physical challenge.

“We were in control until we scored, we missed a second chance, but in the last 15 minutes we’ve shown another aspect of our team, the resilience and fight.”